Processed on 2024-03-04 14:06:53 PST.


Disclaimer: Data presented here come from a variety of sources and do not represent official EPA measurements. Please visit AirNow for official measurements.


Cumulative exposure to smoke is an important public health metric. This report summarizes the cumulative number of days air quality monitors in Texas spent in each AQI category during the the month of October.

The tables below include only permanent monitors measuring PM2.5 and show cumulative exposure under existing NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and under the 2024 revised standards for PM2.5.

In the tables and plots below, ‘Old’ designates cumulative days calculated using the 2023 PM2.5 NAAQS while ‘New’ is calculated using the 2024 revised PM2.5 NAAQS. The impact of the NAAQS revision is quite clear.

October in Texas

October 2014 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 281 71 0 0 0 0 32
New 221 131 0 0 0 0 32

October 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 243 64 0 0 0 0 45
New 189 118 0 0 0 0 45

October 2016 – 48 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 217 21 0 0 0 0 18
New 182 56 0 0 0 0 18

October 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 318 46 0 0 0 0 84
New 250 114 0 0 0 0 84

October 2018 – 64 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 623 10 0 0 0 0 103
New 588 45 0 0 0 0 103

October 2019 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 755 40 0 0 0 0 69
New 670 125 0 0 0 0 69

October 2020 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 729 149 0 0 0 0 82
New 536 342 0 0 0 0 82

October 2021 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 932 120 1 0 0 0 99
New 803 249 1 0 0 0 99

October 2022 – 49 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1205 194 0 0 0 0 137
New 926 473 0 0 0 0 137

October 2023 – 47 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1261 73 0 0 0 0 106
New 1115 219 0 0 0 0 106